How to Detect Hail Damage of Your Home

4 Signs You May Need to File an Insurance Claim

Hail is among the most destructive force of nature a large majority of us will face. Far more common than tornadoes and hurricanes, hail can prove costly, especially to those of us in the hail belt! In 2016 alone, hail caused billions of dollars of damage resulting in tens of thousands of insurance claims nation wide. We are reminded today after reports of 4"+ hail impacting the Dallas metro, just how much damage hail can do!

Of course when hail strikes, there is no denying the sound. What’s harder to determine is how much damage your roof and home may have taken during the storm. Hail stones smaller than a half-inch in diameter aren’t generally heavy enough to cause substantial roof damage unless they are also wind driven. Any larger than .5" and you likely have damage. Before you call your local roofer (or Lastime Exteriors) to come out and take a look, check for these signs of a hail-damaged roof:

1—Asphalt Granules or Wood Shake Splinters in the Gutter and on the ground around downspouts

Granule loss is generally the #1 sign of severe hail damage. Large chunks of hail can knock loose the asphalt in your shingles, which then runs down into your gutters. For wood shingles, you may find splinters and shards of wood. Granules missing from your shingles causes the roofing material to quickly deteriorate, which leads to leaks and further damage.

2—Missing or Broken Shingles

Whether caused by wind or hail during a storm, shingles can be knocked loose from the roof. This is especially true of shingles on an older roof which have become brittle over time. Of course missing or broken shingles increase the potential for water damage, and must be addressed promptly.

3—Soft Spots, Circular Worn Spots

If you feel comfortable getting up on your roof, you can inspect your shingles up close for damp, soft spots. These spots are generally circular in nature and many times are missing asphalt granules. These are places where large hail stones impacted your roof and left permanent damage that needs to be repaired.

4—Damage to Other Exteriors (fences, gutters, roof venting etc.)

An easy way to check for bad hail damage is to see what else around your home has taken damage. Torn up fences, bent gutters and dented downspouts, dented HVAC vents or A/C units—these are all signs of a storm that was violent enough to have damaged your roof as well.

Of course, there is a way to avoid the damage caused by hail all together! Stone coated steel roofing systems will stand up to even baseball sized hail providing you with peace of mind knowing your home is protected. If you aren't sure if you have a claim, or would like to avoid one in the future, give us a call at 402-330-0911 to schedule a free Lastime Exteriors 99 Point Inspection.